Child Protection Psychosocial Support Worker

• Help in setting schedules for weekly activities for children / adolescents / caregivers
• Facilitate social-emotional, recreational, creative and life-skills activities for children and adolescents based on the SHLS schedule
• Facilitate sessions for parents / caregivers to help improve their stress management skills, positive parenting practices, and strategies to support children and adolescents with psychosocial needs
• Engage with children / adolescents in a positive way, using a child-centred approach
• Create a safe environment for children to play, socialize and learn according to established schedules and routines
• Ensure that children and youth are safe from harm
• Observe children and adolescents with special needs and ensure they are well integrated into activities
• Refer identified and suspected child protection cases to the IRC focal point
• Answer questions from community members and parents / caregivers about what activities are taking place
• Support M&E activities as requested to support quality programming

• Identify barriers to accessing available services for vulnerable/specific groups of children and propose measures to reduce/eliminate those barriers
• Identify key protection risks and mitigation/reduction measures
• Identify gaps in CP response services available to the community and share concerns with the Senior CP Officer / within IRC, protection actors and other relevant stakeholders
• Ensure broad dissemination of information on rights, duties, and services available
• Maintain relationships with communities, including local leaders, different groups, and stakeholders, youth groups, children etc. to foster an environment of support to children and their families and IRC programming
• As needed, organize community meetings for information dissemination or other purposes
• Ensure, to the extent possible, that children and adolescents actively participate and help shape IRC’s activities
• Encourage and foster social cohesion among host and IDP community
• Support distributions of risk reduction items (inc. PSS kits) and follow-up monitoring

• Take attendance, report material needs and support other administrative tasks as required
• Report supply/material needs to the supervisor
• Complete relevant activity tracker and contribute to activity reports, according to guidance provided by the CP PSS Officer
• Provide information on a weekly basis to the Senior CP Officer

• Actively coordinate with staff from other IRC sectors in the field, including Protection & Rule of Law, Women’s Protection and Empowerment, Health.
• Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant local actors in the field, including community, non-governmental and governmental actors
• Upon request by his/her supervisor, actively take part in relevant CP coordination meetings at the local and national level (e.g. national CP Cluster)

• Attend trainings organised by the IRC
• Stay informed about the child protection situation and developments within the communities and surrounding areas
• Consistently and proactively monitor the safety and security of field teams, promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment
• Promote and adhere to the principles, objectives and code of conduct of the IRC
• Act both professionally and personally in a manner that brings credit to the IRC and does not compromise its humanitarian mission
• If necessary, provide translation and interpretation at meetings, training sessions and/or documents for a better understanding of all staff
• Conduct any other task requested by his/her supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

• Degree desired in Social Work, Psychology, Education, Human Rights, Social Science, Humanities or other related field
• Previous experience in implementing PSS programming for children and demonstrated understanding of working with children, particularly vulnerable children and children at-risk of violence, exploitation abuse or neglect
• Experience with community work, community mobilization and engagement, and working with children affected by conflict
• Clear understanding of and interest in the well-being of children and supporting their healing after the experience of violence
• Positive and professional attitude, including ability to lead and work well in a team setting
• Ability to keep records and write simple and basic reports of activities
• Comfortable speaking about sensitive topics in an honest, professional, and thoughtful manner
• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients/beneficiaries
• High degree of flexibility and strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail
• Computer literate, including Microsoft Word and Excel
• Language: Fluent in Ukrainian and Russian, basic skills in English

International Rescue Committee